University of Virginia Library

Scena IIII.

Enter to them Prudentius, Intellectus Agens, and Liveby hope with Attendents.
Pru.
D'ee long for action? have ye too much Peace?


Orecloy'd with blessings? you Malevolo
Bend hate against th' unjust.

Mal.
My hand is crampt;
Strike Audax.

Au.
O his brow! I turn to feare.

Pru.
You Amorous love true beauty, Honesty.

Mal.
Thy spleene Irato.

Pru.
Thou Irato fight
Meerely for publike peace.

Ir.
Sweetnesse!

Mal.
Witchcraft!

Pru.
Audax, be bold, but stay till I have bid

Ex. Pru. & Int. & Liveby. following.
Au.
S't. Liveby hope,

Liv.
I must attend his Majesty.

Int.
Goe back, and secretly oreheare this meeting.

(Liv. returns.
Am.
Ha! What Schooling call you this?

Mal.
What Vision?
That Eye of subtil Intellectus Agens
Troubles me somewhat; and I doubt of Liveby

Ir.
Now I could kill my selfe.

Au.
Now I,—Prudentius
He came upon us like the Basilisk,
Or like a Wolfe; but had we seen him first—

Mal.
You could not do it then: never by day.

Am.
Why so?

Mal.
You saw the cause. His flaming Temples
Strike with such charming Power, such secret Spells,
That if you see the Light upon his Face,
Your spirits quaile; it must be done by night.
And Desperato, he must be the man.

Au.
Why He above All Us?

Mal.
Tush, we are foyld;
Already foyld; and may be so again.
Besides Irato spends himselfe: hee's now
So full of heat, I doubt hee'l then grow cold.
But Desperato to his mischeif goes
With art and argued resolution,
Strong in cold blood.

Ir.
I perfectly abhorr
All Judgement, Plotts, and Consultations.
To canvase thoughts, to toile and vexe the head
In weighing meanes, and picking out the best,
This is as bad as to have serv'd Prudentius.

Mal.
And how thinks Audax?

Au.
So. Or else I'm mad.
To plot is base; and to demurr contrivance
Of things that should be done, as soon as thought,
Is foolish too. What turn our powder up,
Then smother 't under ground, then by degrees
Give fire! Such creeping mischeife hath no luck.

Ir.
Come Martial Law, come Captain Martial Law

Au.
And wise Malevolo, when have you e're heard
Of great attempts without the hand of Audax?
Come wee'l too't presently.

Mal.
Even as you please.

Liv.
(in secret)
I sweat with hearing. Ile now run with this
Least I may come too short of telling more.

Am.
Onely this word.

Liv.
Then yet I'le stay.

Am.
Be sure,
If you miscarry we are all undone.
Goe with Ulysses in this night-attempt,
Be each of you to him a Diomed.

Mal.
Stay till they come.

Am.
Lo here they are. Who else?